The Escape from New York for Hall of Famers During the 1970s

There was a semi-famous movie that came out in 1981 starring Kurt Russell and Lee Van Cleef titled Escape from New York. It was a futuristic film about the protagonist trying to get out of the big metropolis in less than 24 hours.

In the NFL during the 1970s, there were plenty of protagonists who were trying to do the same thing, albeit in a slightly longer time than just 24 hours. But be it the New York Giants, the New York Jets, or the Buffalo Bills, there turned out to be quite a few pro football players who found a way out of the Empire State to what they felt were greener pastures.

Larry Csonka

Former Miami Dolphins and New York Giants star running back Larry Csonka was happy to go to New York in 1976. Once he got a good taste of losing many games from 1976 to 1978, however, Csonka quickly got tired of losing. Funny how that works out.

So in 1979, Csonka was able to get out of New York and return to the Dolphins. He only played one last year in Miami in 1979, but he managed to return to his old form, scoring 12 touchdowns for the Dolphins that year, and helping to lead them back to the playoffs. Csonka was also named the league’s Comeback Player of the Year in 1979.

Joe Namath

Another couple of New York Jets left the Big Apple during the 1970s, and those two Hall of Famers could not have had more different final results. Quarterback icon Joe Namath finally was able to depart from New York and play for the Los Angeles Rams in 1977.

Namath was simply – like Simpson – a drawing card at this stage of his pro career. He played in only four games that year, which was his final year in the NFL. He threw for a grand total of 606 yards and three touchdowns in his final four games in the NFL.

John Riggins

Former New York Jets running back John Riggins had much more success than Namath when he left his old team. Riggins accepted a deal with the Washington Redskins, and immediately led them to respectability, then to contention, then in 1982, to a Super Bowl championship. Riggins also led the Redskins to the Super Bowl once again in 1983, where they fell to the Los Angeles Raiders.

Quite simply, Washington was willing to see very plainly how best to use Riggins as a ball carrier, whereas the Jets never adequately utilized his talents. The results were obvious. The Jets continued to flounder through most of the 1970s, while the Redskins began a climb with Riggins toward greatness.

Fran Tarkenton

Then there was the story of Fran Tarkenton, another Hall of Famer who languished in New York for five seasons from 1967 to 1971. Tarkenton wanted to get out of Minnesota, and when he went to the Giants, he discovered that the mediocrity that he experienced in Minnesota was similar to the mediocrity that he experienced in New York.

So, when the chance came for him to go back to Minnesota again in 1972, he was more than happy to do so. Tarkenton experienced the greatest amount of his pro success in his second time around with the Vikings, as he led them to three conference championships.

There were also quite a few other NFL players who were not Hall of Famers who left New York during the 1970s. Like the Hall of Famers, some of them had success with their new teams, and some of them did not. But most of them were glad to experience a change of scenery in the NFL…after they escaped from New York.

Trivia Question:

Which former New York Giants tight end did Fran Tarkenton talk Minnesota’s management into signing with the Vikings in the middle of the 1977 season?

LISTEN FOR FREE ON YOUR APP OF CHOICE

Please Share If You Liked This Article

Host of Pro Football in the 1970s - Joe Zagorski

Throughout his days, Joe spent some time as a sportswriter and has been a member of the Pro Football Researchers Association since the mid-1980s. Joe is also a proud member of the Pro Football Writers of America.

“JOE ZAGORSKI WRITER” WEBSITE

CHECK OUT THE NFL IN THE 1970S FACEBOOK PAGE